PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J R Cook

Publications and source records attributed to J R Cook.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Physical properties of a plasmid-like DNA from Euglena gracilis.

A small circular extrachromosomal DNA of the flagellate protozoan Euglena gracilis has been characterized as having a contour length of 11.3 kb, with a consistent restriction map. The buoyant density (rho = 1.717) and melting temperature (tm = 89 degrees C) both indicate a base content of 59% G + C. The DNA is found in both wild-type cells and those lacking plastids. The copy number is estimated to be about 1000.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1985

Effect of sodium butyrate on alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in rat hepatoma cells in vitro.

Sodium butyrate has been reported to induce cellular differentiation and reduce the tumorigenicity of certain tumor cells. We have examined the effects of butyrate on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression in 7777 and McA-RH8994 rat hepatoma cells and have found that nontoxic concentrations of the drug decrease AFP mRNA levels in both cell lines. However, McA-RH8994 requires a 10-fold lower concentration (0.5 mM) of butyrate to affect a 50% reduction in AFP mRNA levels within 48 h. At 2 mM, sodium butyrate reduces AFP mRNA levels in McA-RH8994 cells by at least 90% after 48 h, while having little effect on the expression of either the 7S RNA or Harvey-ras genes. Time-course studies show that the effect of butyrate on McA-RH8994 AFP mRNA levels is immediate and is accompanied by an accumulation of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle. Sodium butyrate was found to reduce AFP mRNA levels in both dexamethasone-treated 7777 and McA-RH8994 cells; dexamethasone decreases AFP mRNA levels in the former cell line and increases AFP mRNA levels in the latter. Therefore, it is unlikely that butyrate acts simply by reducing the dexamethasone receptor concentration in 7777 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Culture pH, CO2 tension, and cell division in Euglena gracilis Z.

Growth characteristics of Euglena gracilis Z as functions of culture pH, CO2 tension, temperature, and lighting regime were investigated. The results are consistent with the possibility that cell division is preceded by a lowered intracellular pH. Also consistent with this possibility is the finding that division rhythmicity can be induced by periodic changes in CO2 tension. It is suggested that the rhythmicity is induced by changes in intracellular pH produced by carbonic acid.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1978

Simple procedure for determining octanol--aqueous partition, distribution, and ionization coefficients by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography.

The described simple, accurate, and precise reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure is in excellent agreement with 1-octanol shake-flask partition or distribution coefficients over a 3.5 log range. A chemically bonded octadecylsilane support is persilated and coated with 1-octanol. With 1-octanol-saturated buffers as mobile phases, a stable baseline (compared to 1-octanol adsorbed on silica) is obtained rapidly, and the log relative retention times are highly correlated with unit slope to log distribution or partition coefficients obtained from the classical shake-flask procedures. Only relatively basic, unhindered pyridines deviate, probably because of binding with residual silinol sites. In addition, if the apparent pKa or pKab of an ionizable compound lies within the pH operating range of the column support, the apparent pKa or pKab usually can be determined simultaneously with log P by measuring the log distribution coefficient at several pH values. The procedure gives rapid results, requires little material, and can tolerate impurities.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗
PubMed1976

Input from trigeminal cutaneous afferents to neurones of the inferior olive in rats.

Extracellular recordings were obtained from inferior olivary neurones of the rat. The responses of fifty neurones evoked by electrical stimulation of a branch of the trigeminal nerve were recorded. Maxillary nerve stimulation was most effective. The response was characterized by an early discharge (single spike and wave, typically with latencies between 16 and 30 msec) and a weak late discharge which followed a period of inhibition of about 100 msec. Half of the neurones responded to one branch of the trigeminal nerve only whereas the other neurons displayed a varying degree of convergence, including sometimes a convergence from limb nerves. Forty-nine olivary neurones were tested for cutaneous receptive fields. Ten out of these had small receptive fields (less than 20% of the contralateral face) and a low threshold to mechanical stimuli. Twenty neurones which had larger receptive fields responded also to low-threshold or to medium-threshold (i.e. non-nociceptive) mechanical stimuli. None of the neurones displayed receptive fields more extensive than half of the contralateral face and some of the larger fields had a small, low-threshold focus. Olivary neurones responding to electrical stimulation of trigeminal nerves or mechanical stimulation of the face were located in the medial segment of the olivary complex (dorsal accessory and principal olive). A few cells only were located in the lateral segment. It is concluded that neurones of the inferior olive receive a substantial input from trigeminal afferents and are capable of transmitting precise somatotopical information to the cerebellum.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1976

Optic nerve colobomas of autosomal-dominant heredity.

Fifteen members of a family had congenital colobomas of the optic nerves, all of which were bilateral. The bolobomas appeared as enlargement of the physiologic cup with severely affected eyes having huge cavities in the site of the disc. A variable amount of glial tissue was present within the colobomas. Either macular or extramacular serous detachment or sequelae were present in 21 of the 30 affected eyes, and often led to total blindness. Radioisotope cisternography in one patient failed to implicate cerebrospinal fluid as the source of the subretinal fluid. The disorder is apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Cyclic changes in chloroplast structure in synchronized Euglena gracilis.

In populations of Euglena gracilis strain Z synchronized by cultivation on a repetitive light-dark cycle, chloroplasts undergo cyclic changes in strucutre. During most of the light period chloroplasts are relatively compact with closely appressed lamellae; during the dark (division) period the chloroplasts become quite distended. This change persists for at least one cycle even when the cells are left in continuous light, suggesting that the periodicity may be related more to the age of the cell than to a direct effect of light. In addition, the pyrenoid in synchronized cells has a transient existence, being present only in the first half of the light period.

Animals↗